Remembrance Series
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
All photos courtesy of National Archives of Canada with the exception of:
Pages 3 and 13; photos courtesy of the National Film Board (NFB)
Pages 12 and 14; DVA photos
Map: Directorate of History and Heritage,
Department of National Defence.
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada represented
by the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 2005.
Cat. No. V32-29/2005
ISBN 0-662-68723-X
Printed in Canada
The poppy is the registered trademark of the Royal Canadian Legion.
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
Generations of Canadians have served our country and the world during times of
war, military conflict and peace. Through their courage and sacrifice, these men
and women have helped to ensure that we live in freedom and peace, while also
fostering freedom and peace around the world. The Canada Remembers Program
promotes a greater understanding of these Canadians’ efforts and honours the
sacrifices and achievements of those who have served and those who supported
our country on the home front.
The program engages Canadians through the following elements: national and
international ceremonies and events including Veterans’ Week activities, youth
learning opportunities, educational and public information materials (including
online learning), the maintenance of international and national Government of
Canada memorials and cemeteries (including 13 First World War battlefield
memorials in France and Belgium), and the provision of funeral and burial services.
Canada’s involvement in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, and
Canada’s efforts during military operations and peace efforts has always been
fuelled by a commitment to protect the rights of others and to foster peace and
freedom. Many Canadians have died for these beliefs, and many others have
dedicated their lives to these pursuits. This willingness to stand up to protect
human rights, freedom and justice remains one of Canada’s defining
characteristics in the eyes of the world.
Veterans Affairs Canada encourages all Canadians to learn more about the
sacrifices and achievements made by those who served our country, and to
help preserve their legacy by passing the torch of Remembrance to future
generations of Canadians.
...To you from failing hands we throw The torch, be yours to hold it high. If ye break
faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
From “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae
For a list of all publication titles available, please visit www.vac-acc.gc.ca
or call 1-877-604-8469 toll free.
The Raid on Dieppe
Introduction
THE CLIFFS AT PUYS BEACH. (NATIONAL FILM BOARD PHOTO BY J. OUGH, 1972)
The raid on Dieppe, France, on August 19, 1942, was a
pivotal moment in the Second World War. With virtually all of
continental Europe under German occupation, the Allied forces
faced a well-entrenched enemy. Some method had to be found
to create a foothold on the continent, and the Raid on Dieppe
offered invaluable lessons for the successful D-Day invasion in
1944, saving countless lives in that momentous offensive.
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
3
Canadians made up the great majority of the attackers in the
raid. Nearly 5,000 of the 6,100 troops were Canadians. The
remaining troops consisted of approximately 1,000 British
Commandos and 50 American Rangers. The raid was
supported by eight Allied destroyers and 74 Allied air
squadrons, eight belonging to the Royal Canadian Air Force
(RCAF). Major-General J.H. Roberts, Commander of the
2nd Canadian Division, was Military Force Commander, with
Captain J. Hughes-Hallett, Royal Navy (RN) as Naval Force
Commander and Air Vice-Marshal T.L. Leigh-Mallory as Air
Force Commander.
Although extremely valuable lessons were learned in the Raid
on Dieppe, a steep price was paid. Of the 4,963 Canadians
who embarked for the operation, only 2,210 returned to
England, and many of these were wounded. There were 3,367
casualties, including 1,946 prisoners of war; 913 Canadians
lost their lives.
Looking for solutions
The Allied situation in the spring of 1942 was grim. The
Germans had penetrated deep into Russia, the British Eighth
Army in North Africa had been forced back into Egypt, and,
in Western Europe, the Allied forces had been pushed across
the English Channel to Britain.
At this point the Allied forces weren’t strong enough to mount
“Operation Overlord”, the full-scale invasion of Western
Europe. Instead, the Allies decided to mount a major raid on
the French port of Dieppe. It was designed to test new
equipment, and gain the experience and knowledge necessary
for planning a great amphibious assault that would one day be
necessary to defeat Germany. Also, after years of training in
4
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
SHIP THAT TOOK PART IN THE RAID ON DIEPPE. (NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF CANADA 08239)
Britain, some Canadian politicians and generals were anxious
for Canadian troops to experience battle.
To achieve these goals, plans were made for a large-scale raid
to take place in July 1942, called “Operation Rutter”.
Canadians would provide the main assault force, and, by May
20, troops of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division were on the
Isle of Wight, in the English Channel, training intensively in
amphibious operations. Poor weather in July, however,
prevented them from launching Operation Rutter. Many
involved in the planning wanted to abandon the raid. Despite
the debate, the operation was revived and given the new code
name “Jubilee”. The port of Dieppe on the French coast
remained the objective.
The Raid on Dieppe took place on the morning of August 19,
1942. The forces attacked at five different points on a front
roughly 16 kilometres long. Four simultaneous flank attacks
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
5
were to go in just before dawn, followed half an hour later by
the main attack on the town of Dieppe itself. Canadians were
the force for the frontal attack on Dieppe, and also went in at
gaps in the cliffs at Pourville, four kilometres to the west, and
at Puys to the east. British commandos were assigned to
destroy the coastal batteries at Berneval on the eastern flank,
and at Varengeville in the west.
The eastern flank
As the assault force approached the coast of France in the early
hours of August 19, the landing craft of the eastern sector
unexpectedly encountered a small German convoy. There was
a sharp, violent, sea fight, and that noise alerted the German
coastal defences, particularly at Berneval and Puys. With the
Germans ready to man their defences, the element of surprise
was lost. The crafts carrying No. 3 Commando were scattered,
and most of the unit never reached shore. Those who did were
quickly overwhelmed. One small party of 20 commandos
managed to get within 180 metres of the German battery.
Their accurate sniping prevented the German guns from firing
on the assault ships for two-and-a-half vital hours before they
were safely evacuated.
At Puys, the Royal Regiment of Canada also suffered
unexpected difficulties. The beach was extremely narrow, and
was commanded by lofty cliffs where German soldiers were
strategically placed. To be successful, the attackers needed
surprise and darkness; they got neither. The naval landing was
delayed, and as the Royal Regiment of Canada leapt ashore in
the dawning light, they met violent machine-gun fire from the
fully-alerted German soldiers. Only a few men were able to get
over the heavily-wired seawall at the head of the beach; those
who did were unable to get back. The rest of the troops,
6
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
together with three platoons of reinforcements from the Black
Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, were pinned
on the beach by mortar and machine-gun fire, and were later
forced to surrender. It was impossible to evacuate them
because of the German fire. Of those who landed, 200 were
killed and 20 died later of their wounds; the rest were taken
prisoner. It was the heaviest toll suffered by a Canadian
battalion in a single day during the entire war. Also, the failure
to clear the eastern headland allowed the Germans to defend
the Dieppe beaches with firepower from both sides, and
nullify the main frontal attack.
The western flank
The forces in the western sector attacked with some degree
of surprise. In contrast to the misfortune encountered by the
No. 3 Commandos on the east flank, the No. 4 Commando
operation was completely successful. The units landed as
planned and successfully destroyed the guns in the battery
near Varengeville, and then withdrew safely.
CONVOY CARRYING CANADIAN TROOPS EN ROUTE TO DIEPPE.
(NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF CANADA 08240)
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
7
At Pourville the Canadians surprised the enemy. Initial
opposition was light, as the South Saskatchewan Regiment
and Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada assaulted
the beaches. Resistance intensified as the Saskatchewans,
supported by Camerons, crossed the River Scie. After heavy
fighting, they were stopped well short of the town of Dieppe.
The main force of the Camerons, meanwhile, pushed on
towards their objective, an inland airfield, and advanced
three kilometres before they were forced to halt as well.
Both regiments then attempted to withdraw.
WOUNDED CANADIAN OFFICER ON HIS RETURN TO ENGLAND AFTER THE RAID ON
DIEPPE. (NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF CANADA 8225)
The South Saskatchewan Regiment and Queen’s Own
Cameron Highlanders of Canada suffered heavy losses during
the withdrawal. The enemy fired fiercely upon the beach from
dominating positions east of Pourville, and also from the high
ground to the west. The landing craft, however, came in
8
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
through the storm of fire with self-sacrificing bravery and,
supported by a courageous rearguard, the majority of both
units successfully re-embarked, though many of the men were
wounded. The rearguard itself could not be evacuated. They
surrendered after they ran out of ammunition and further
evacuation was impossible.
The main attack
The main attack was made across the pebble beach in front of
Dieppe. It was timed to take place a half-hour later than the
assault on its flanks. The German troops, concealed in clifftop
positions and in buildings overlooking the promenade, were
well prepared for the Canadians. As the men of the Essex
Scottish Regiment assaulted the open eastern section, the
enemy swept the beach with machine-gun fire. All attempts to
breach the seawall were beaten back with terrible casualties.
When one small platoon managed to infiltrate the town, a
message was sent back to Headquarters offshore which
misleadingly led General Roberts to believe that the Essex
Scottish had established themselves in the town. To support
them, the reserve battalion Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal was
sent in. Like their comrades who had landed earlier, they
found themselves pinned down on the beach and exposed
to intense enemy fire.
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry landed at the west end of
the promenade opposite a large isolated casino. They were able
to clear this strongly-held building and the nearby pillboxes
and enter the town. Some men of the battalion crossed the
bullet-swept boulevard and moved into the town, where they
engaged in vicious street fighting.
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
9
The Calgary Regiment also encountered unexpected obstacles.
Although they were supposed to land immediately after an
intense air and naval bombardment, they were put ashore ten
to fifteen minutes late. This left the infantry without support
during the first critical minutes of the attack. Then, as the
tanks came ashore, they met an inferno of fire and were
brought to a halt. They were stopped not just by enemy guns,
but also by the pebble beach and a seawall. The tanks which
managed to overcome the seawall found their way blocked by
concrete obstacles that sealed off the narrow streets. Still, the
immobilized tanks continued to fight, supporting the infantry
and contributing greatly to the withdrawal of many of the
soldiers. The tank crews themselves became prisoners of war
(POWs) or died in battle.
A CHURCHILL TANK OF THE CALGARY REGIMENT IN DIEPPE.
(NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF CANADA C-29872)
The last troops to land were part of the Royal Marine “A”
Commando, which shared the terrible fate of the Canadians.
They suffered heavy losses without being able to accomplish
their mission.
10
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
THE BEACH AFTER THE RAID ON DIEPPE.
The raid also produced a tremendous air battle. While the
Allied air forces were able to provide protection for the ships
off Dieppe from the Luftwaffe (the German air force), the cost
was high. The Royal Air Force lost 106 aircraft, the highest
single-day total of the war. The Royal Canadian Air Force
lost 13 aircraft.
Lessons learned
By early afternoon, August 19, 1942, Operation Jubilee was
over. Debate over the merits of the raid continues to the
present day. Some believe that it was a useless slaughter, others
maintain that it was necessary for the success of the invasion
of the continent two years later on D-Day. Without question,
the Raid on Dieppe was studied carefully in planning later
attacks against the enemy-held coast of France. There were
improvements in technique, fire support and tactics, which
reduced D-Day casualties to an unexpected minimum. The
lessons learned at Dieppe were instrumental in saving
countless lives on the 6th of June, 1944.
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
11
Victoria Cross
Winners
While individual acts of
courage occur frequently
during war, only a few
are seen and recorded.
They stand out as
examples for all to
admire and respect.
Two Canadians were
awarded the Victoria
THE DIEPPE-CANADA MONUMENT.
Cross, the British
Commonwealth’s highest military decoration for bravery,
for their actions during the Raid on Dieppe:
Charles Cecil Ingersoll Merritt
Following the landing at Pourville, the South Saskatchewan
Regiment made their way towards the town of Dieppe. As they
struggled to cross the bridge over the River Scie, LieutenantColonel Cecil Merritt came forward and took charge himself.
Walking calmly into the storm of fire on the bridge, he led
party after party across by the sheer force of his example. Other
men forded or swam the river. In spite of their valiant efforts,
the advance was halted and they were forced to withdraw.
Again, Lt.-Col. Merritt displayed outstanding courage.
Although twice wounded, he commanded a vigorous rearguard
action that permitted the majority of the units to successfully
re-embark. The rearguard itself could not be rescued, and
Lt.-Col. Merritt and his men became prisoners of war.
12
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
John Weir Foote
The Reverend John W. Foote was the first member of the
Canadian Chaplain Services to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
Calmly, through eight hours of gruelling battle, Reverend Foote,
Chaplain of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, continually
exposed himself to very intense fire to help move the injured to
an aid post, saving many lives through his brave efforts. Then,
at the end of this ordeal, he jumped from the landing craft that
would have taken him to safety. He walked courageously into
the German positions to be taken prisoner, so he could minister
to his fellow Canadians who were now POWs.
COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE AT SQUARE DU CANADA. (PHOTO J. OUGH, NFB, 1972)
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
13
We Remember
The Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery is located approximately
five kilometres south of Dieppe, in the town of Hautôt-surMer. The hillside cemetery is unique in that its headstones
have been placed back to back in long double rows. The
Germans buried these war dead, the same way they buried
their own. After they liberated the region, the Allies chose not
to disturb the graves. Today, the cemetery is maintained by the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
DIEPPE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY. (PHOTO BY GEORGE HUNTER)
Of the 944 members of the British and Allied Armed Forces
buried at Dieppe, 707 are Canadian, most victims of the Raid
on Dieppe. Some of the captured, wounded raiders died in
hospital in Rouen, 58 kilometres away, and 37 are buried in
14
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
that city. Casualties of the raid who later died in Britain
are buried mainly in Brookwood Military Cemetery in
Surrey, England.
The cemetery also contains the remains of one woman, Mary
Janet Climpson, a British Salvation Army, Auxiliary Service
Officer, who was killed two years earlier in May 1940.
Canadians “missing in action” in the Dieppe operation are
commemorated on two memorials in England: members of
the Army on the Brookwood Memorial and members of the
RCAF on the Runnymede Memorial.
Regimental memorials erected by the survivors and their
comrades stand today at all the landing places. On the beaches
of Dieppe, Puys and Pourville, memorials pay tribute to
members of the Essex Scottish Regiment, the Royal Regiment
of Canada, the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, Les Fusiliers
Mont-Royal, the Calgary Regiment, the South Saskatchewan
Regiment and the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of
Canada, who gave their lives in the raid.
Following the war, the town of Dieppe created a small park at the
western end of the esplanade, where it has a memorial of its own.
Standing in the centre of Square du Canada (Canada Square), the
Dieppe-Canada Monument is a testimony to the long and warm
association between Canadians and the people of the region, the
Normans, which has existed since Samuel de Champlain sailed to
found New France. The names of people and events which have
linked Canada and Normandy over the centuries have been
recorded on the monument. Mounted on the wall behind it is a
plaque that commemorates the Raid on Dieppe:
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
15
On the 19th of August 1942
on the beaches of Dieppe
our Canadian cousins
marked with their blood
the road to our final liberation
foretelling thus their victorious return
on September 1, 1944. (translation)
AIRMEN WHO TOOK PART IN THE RAID ON DIEPPE.
(NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF CANADA 08252)
16
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
Casualties
Canadian Units Participating in the Raid on Dieppe
Canadian Army
Fatal Casualties
Headquarters and Miscellaneous Detachments.....................5
14th Army Tank Regiment (The Calgary Regiment (Tank))....13
Royal Canadian Artillery ....................................................13
Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers ...................................27
Royal Canadian Corps of Signals..........................................9
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.....4
The Royal Regiment of Canada........................................227
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry
(Wentworth Regiment).....................................................197
Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal ..................................................119
The Essex Scottish Regiment............................................121
The South Saskatchewan Regiment....................................84
The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada..........76
The Calgary Highlanders......................................................0
The Toronto Scottish Regiment (MG) .................................1
Royal Canadian Army Service Corps....................................1
Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps ..................................4
Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps .........................................2
Canadian Provost Corps .......................................................1
Canadian Intelligence Corps.................................................3
907
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
17
Royal Canadian Navy.......................................................1
Royal Canadian Air Force
400 Army Cooperation Squadron ........................................0
401 Fighter Squadron...........................................................1
402 Fighter Squadron...........................................................0
403 Fighter Squadron...........................................................3
411 Fighter Squadron...........................................................0
412 Fighter Squadron...........................................................1
414 Army Cooperation Squadron ........................................0
416 Fighter Squadron...........................................................0
418 Intruder Squadron (two aircraft) ...................................0
5
913
Other Forces
In addition to the 4,963 Canadian troops taking part in
the raid, there were 1,075 British troops (52 fatalities),
50 of the 1st U.S. Ranger Battalion (one fatality) and
20 of No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando.
Air and sea support was provided mainly by British forces.
Their casualties were: Royal Navy – 75 killed or died of
wounds and 269 missing or prisoners, and Royal Air
Force – 62 fatalities.
18
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
Remembering their sacrifice
The Canadians who fought in the Raid on Dieppe achieved
and sacrificed much in their efforts to help bring peace and
freedom to the people of Europe. Their task was a difficult
and costly one, but their effort was not in vain. These
combattants were among the more than one million men and
women who served in Canada’s armed forces during the
Second World War. More than 42,000 Canadians gave their
lives in the war. Canada and the world recognize the sacrifices
and achievements of all Canadians, like those who fought in
the Raid on Dieppe, who accomplished so much and left a
lasting legacy of peace.
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
19
20
The 1942 Dieppe Raid
Number
Embarked
Killed
in action
Fatal Casualties
Died
Died
of Wounds While
POW
Total
Fatal
Casualties
Wounded
Non-Fatal Casualties
Prisoners of War
Wounded Unwounded
Total
Non-Fatal
Casualties
Total Fatal
and
Non-Fatal
Casualties
Number Returning UK on
completion of
Operation
NOTE : – The number returning to the UK upon completion of the operation is obtained by subtracting the figures appeararing
under “Killed in Action”, “Died while POW” and “Wounded and Unwounded Prisoners of War” from the number that embarked.
Total .....................................................................................4,963..............807 ....................28 ..............72...............907...............586..............568 .............1,306............2,460 .................3,367 ......................2,210
Cdn. Int. Corps Detachments....................................................15..................3 ......................– ................–...................3...................–..................1 ....................4...................5 ........................8 .............................7
Cdn. Provost Corps Detachment ...............................................41..................1 ......................– ................–...................1...................7..................7 ..................11.................25 ......................26 ...........................22
RCOC Detachments..................................................................15..................1 ......................– ................1...................2...................2..................2 ....................–...................4 ........................6 ...........................11
RCAMC Detachments.............................................................126..................4 ......................– ................–...................4...................3..................2 ..................10.................15 ......................19 .........................110
RCASC Detachments ................................................................38..................1 ......................– ................–...................1...................6..................3 ....................1.................10 ......................11 ...........................33
RC Sigs. Detachments ...............................................................78..................8 ......................1 ................–...................9...................9..................3 ..................15.................27 ......................36 ...........................52
RCE Detachments ...................................................................316................23 ......................1 ................3.................27.................36................37 ..................88...............161 ....................188 .........................165
RCA Units and Detachments...................................................270................13 ......................– ................–.................13...................4..................8 ..................22.................34 ......................47 .........................227
Calgary Highlanders ..................................................................22..................– ......................– ................–...................–...................–..................– ....................–...................– ........................– ...........................22
Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada ..................111..................1 ......................– ................3...................4...................6..................2 ..................61.................69 ......................73 ...........................44
Toronto Scottish Regiment (MG)............................................125..................1 ......................– ................–...................1...................8..................3 ....................1.................12 ......................13 .........................120
14 Cdn. Army Tk. Regt. (Calgary R).......................................417................12 ......................– ................1.................13...................4................19 ................138...............161 ....................174 .........................247
South Saskatchewan Regiment.................................................523................78 ......................3 ................3.................84...............166................24 ..................65...............255 ....................339 .........................353
Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada.......................503................60 ......................8 ................8.................76...............103................36 ................131...............270 ....................346 .........................268
Fusiliers Mont-Royal................................................................584..............105 ......................4 ..............10...............119.................50..............111 ................233...............394 ....................513 .........................125
Essex Scottish Regiment...........................................................553..............105 ......................2 ..............14...............121.................27..............122 ................260...............409 ....................530 ...........................52
Royal Hamilton Light Infantry ................................................582..............179 ......................7 ..............11...............197...............108................78 ..................97...............283 ....................480 .........................217
Royal Regiment of Canada ......................................................554..............207 ......................2 ..............18...............227.................33..............103 ................161...............297 ....................524 ...........................65
Headquarters, Miscellaneous Small Units and Detachments ......90..................5 ......................– ................–...................5.................14..................7 ....................8.................29 ......................34 ...........................70
Units
Dieppe Raid
Embarkation Strength – Casualties – Disembarkation Strength (Canadian Army Units)